Production of castings or the like



Jan. 1,1935. R. M ILVAINE 1,985,942

PRGDUCTION 0F CASTINGS OR THE 111KB Filed July 13, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet1 Ira/211161 Rakfj. ZVL/Zzlzz'ne J 1935. R. L McILVA INE 1,985,942

PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE a? Mar/.1

R. 1.. McILVAINE 1,985,942

IRODUCTION 0F CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, 1931 ll Sheets-Sheet 3Jan. 1, 1935.

Q Q r 2 m I \A. m N. flaw .N.\\. J 4 #3 MY. ml m M. a Z w M w. M 0 a a aj. L 1 r L n 1 m fi a mm Q MN m h. T m Rm a m m P 9 1 l m Jim 1935- R.L. M ILVAINE 1,985,942

' PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, '1931 11Sheets-Shae; s

Jan. 1, 1935.

R. L. M ILVAINE PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, 193111 Sheets-Sheet 6 1, 1935. R. L. M ILVAiNE PRODUCTION oncAs IkGs on THELIKE Jan.

Filed July 15, 1931 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 R. L. M ILVAINE Filed July 13,1931 PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Jan. 1, 1935.-

.RNI

Jan. 1, 1935. R. M ILVAIVNE PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE FiledJuly 13, 1931 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 w Q ,Q EEM- a I! Y m z hm 1935- R. 1..McILVAINE 1,985,942

PRODUCTION OF CASTINGS OR THE LIKE Filed July 13, 1951 11 Sheets-Sheetll III/II/II/IIII/I/II/l A W MR k Q Ill/10217171171771) 57 ImfentPatented Jan. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claim].

This invention relates to methods or means for producing castings moreparticularly of-metal and by the use of what is known in the trade asgreen sand, where the same sand, generally speaking, can be usedrepeatedly.

Among other objects my invention aims to provide improved means forstoring the molds for the castings in substantially the location inwhich the molds are produced.

My invention furthermore provides for the first time unitary means formoving a molding machine and its operator simultaneously, while at thesame time picking up sand for molding from the foundry floor,conditioning said sand,

producing molds therefrom and depositing the molds so produced upon thefoundry floor from which the sand has been picked up.

My invention also includes unitary means for shaking out the castingsfrom said molds, after pouring, moving the castings away from the floor,and leaving the sand upon the floor to be picked up again for moldingpurposes.

The invention may be understood by reference to the exempliflcationthereof set forth in the following description, taken together with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of afoundry floor with my invention in use thereon;

Figure 2 is a section through the combine on the plane 2-2 of Figure 3and showing a plan view of the molding platform of the unitary moldingcombine included in my invention, but omitting, for simplification,certain parts shown in other views;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the combine on the plane 3-3 ofFigure 2, showing parts in elevation:

Figure 4 is a section taken on the plane 4-4 of Figure 3, showing partsin elevation;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the plane 5-5 of Figure 4, showing partsin elevation and somewhat diagrammatic, parts being omitted;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the plane 6-6 of Figure 4, showing partsin elevation;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the molding combine;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the lower flight of theconveyor, parts being shown in section, and being partly diagrammaticalshowing the sand being picked up by the conveyor;

Figure 9 is an enlarged partial section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure5, being somewhat diagrammatical;

Figure 10 is a similar view on the line 10-10 of Figure 5; v

'Figure'll is a fragmentary enlarged section taken on the line 11-11 ofFigure 6, but showing the depositing means approaching its lowermostposition;

Figure 12' is an end view of the structure of Figure 11 showing therelease mechanism about to be operated to release the mold;

Figure 13 is an end elevation similar to Figure 12, but showing'thedepositing means approaching uppermost position and showing the releasemechanism about to be locked to receive the mold;

Figure 14 is a section taken on the line, 14-14 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a top view of the structure of Figure 11;

Figure 16 isan enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown inFigure 6 and showing the depositing means in uppermost position toreceive a mold;

Figure 17 is a section taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 16, but showing the depositingmeans in its lowermost position with the release mechanism actuated torelease the mold;

Figure 19 is a top view of the structure shown in Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary section on the line 20-20 of Figure 17;

Figure,21 is an enlarged view of the depositing means speed governorshowing parts in section;

Figure 22 is a section taken on the line 22-22 of Figure 21. I

Referring in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 shows means in generalembodying my invention and including a foundry floor A having rails Barranged-at each side longitudinally thereof, unitary molding meansrepresented by the molding combine C, and unitary shakeout meansrepresented by the car D. The combine 0 and car D are movable in eitherdirection. on the rails B and span the foundry floor A.

In accordance with my invention, I provide that the sand E is picked upby the molding combine C and after being appropriately conditioned uponthe combine, may be used in making molds upon the combine, which moldsare then mechanically deposited upon the floor of the foundry from whichthe sand has been picked up by the molding combine C. A quantity of suchmolds are shown at F. The molds (after being poured) may be then shakenout by the car D, the sand E being returned to the floor ing the spacedapart bars 2. In this instance exemplary molding machines are indicatedby the squeezer machines 3. Thebars 2 are not continuous across theplatform 1, but are arranged to leave a central slot 2a through theplatform for a purpose presently described.

The sand E which is lying upon the floor of the foundry ahead of thecombine (having been left upon the floor A from a previous cycle ofoperations as presently described) is picked up by the combine as itmoves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. Means forpicking up thesand is here represented by a conveyor 3a which,

as here shown, comprises the endless link-androller chains 4 (Figure 3)having the buckets 5 fixed at regularly spaced intervals to links of thechains. The endless link-and-roller chains 4 may be driven by means suchas the motor 6 (Figure 4) connected with the chains by appropriate speedreduction mechanism 6a to drive the conveyor at a relatively slow speedthrough a shaft 6b and the sprockets 4b mounted thereon.

The endless chains 4 are trained over sprockets 4a one for each of thechains at the beginning and end of the lower flight of the chains andthe sprockets 4b at the corresponding positions of the upper flight ofthe chains and which sprockets 4b are rotatively secured to the combineC. The lower sprockets 4a are suspended from drums 40 (Figures 3 and 6)through the intermediationof cables 4d and slides 4e which movevertically in guides 4f fixed upon the combine, there being extendingpractically the length of the combine C a track frame 4f secured to theslides 4e and to which the sprockets 4a are rotatively secured. Thetrack frame 4j also provides a raceway 4g for the rollers of the linkand roller chains 4 in their lower flight and which insures that thelower flight of the conveyor will be raised with the track frame. Onepair of the sprockets 4a is desirably adjustable longitudinally on thetrack frame 4] as by means of a take up device 4) to provide for takingup slack in the conveyor chain 4. By manipulation of the hand chain 4hthe drums 40 may be rotated tlnough the shaft 42, the worms 47' and theworm wheels 410, to raise or lower the track frame 4/ and the sprockets4a. The worm wheels 4k are mounted upon the shafts 4m upon which thedrums 4c are also mounted. The central slot 2a in the platform 1 permitsraising of these parts.

The conveyor 30. may thus be adjusted to pick up or not to pick up sandfrom the foundry floor, as desired.

In this instance, the buckets 5 perform a double function being eachdivided into two sections '7 and 8, the sections 7 being all in oneplane and the sections 8 being in another parallel plane. As theconveyor 3a moves in the direction of the arrow (Figure 3) the bucketsections 7 which have operative edges depending below the bucketsections 8 in the lower flight of the chain 4 may be adjusted to contactwith the sand E on the floor of the foundry, each bucket section 7 thuspicking up some of this sand (see Figures 8 and 9) and carrying it, inthe movement of the conveyor,.to the chute 9 (Figures 3, 4 and 5). Thesand is directed into the buckets as they turn upwardly by the apron 8arigidly secured to the track frame 4j and disposed around the conveyorat the end of its lower flight. The chute 9 is disposed at the startofthe upper flight of the conveyor where each section 7 of each bucket 5,being flxed to the links of the chain 4 turns upon its side and emptiesits load into the chute. The sand is next suitably conditioned as byexemplary conditioning means next described. As here shown, the sanddropped into the chute 9-falls through the chute upon the endless belt10 (as best shown in Figure 5) which carries the sand overa magneticdrum '11. The sand not being attracted by the drum drops on the end ofthe belt into a chute 12, while any. magnetic substances such as ferrousmetal particles in the sand are attracted to the drum 11 sufficiently tobe carried past the chute l2 and are dropped into the chute 13 as thebelt 10 leaves the drum 11. Thus metal particles may be collected in anysuitable receptacle such as the hopper 14 from which they may be removedand disposed of, as desired. The sand from the belt 10 is conveyed bythe chute 12 into the interior of a revolving cylindrical screener 15which removes lumps and screens and aerates the sand,

as is well known in the art. The screener 15 may be tilted so that thelumps will roll from the screener 15 into a chute 15a and from the chuteinto a lump box 15b, from where they may be removed as desired. Thescreened sand is permittedto drop into a further conditioning mechanism,such as the paddle mixer 16, which may be any suitable commercial mixer;for example, one providing for an addition of an appropriate amount. ;ofwater to the sand, if desired. This mixer 16 may be driven by a motorindicated generally at 17 and suitably connected therewith by speedreduction mechanism indicated generally at 17a. I

The sand 'thus conditioned is conveyed to an accessible locationadjacent each of the molding machines 3. In this instance, theconditioned sand leaving the sand mill 16 is directed by gravity througha chute 18 (Figures 3 and 10) into an arcuate hopper 19 rigidly securedto the track frame 4f and disposed about the conveyor 311 at the end ofthe lower flight of the conveyor and through which the bucket sections 8of the conveyor pass, each bucket section 8 picking up some of this sandand carrying it to one of the bins 20 opening into the trough 21, whichis disposed along the top of the combine C immediately beneath the upperflight of the bucket sections 8. The bins 20 may be arranged in pairs,each pair having a common mouth 20a opening into the trough 21 (Figures4 and 6). In this instance, the trough 21 extends also beneath the upperflight of the bucket sections '7 to prevent any sand which may adherethereto from falling upon the operators below. As thus arranged any sendaccidentally conveyed by a bucket section '7 will be carried along thetrough without falling into the bins 20 through the action of thepartitions 21a between the bucket sections 7 and 8. A track 21b parallelwith trough 21 is desirably provided for the upper flight of theconveyor. Obviously the bucket sections 8 as they empty their load ofconditioned sand into the trough 21 will fill the bins 20 successively.As is clearly shown in the drawings,

when one bin is full. the bucket sections 8 will convey the sand alongthe trough 21 until it falls into the next bin and so on until all thebins are full. In practice it may be desirable to have the conditionedsand supplied at 'such rate that some of this sand will be ca ied by thebucket sections 8 the entire length of the trough 21,so

as to insure keeping all of the bins20 fullv atv all times. If the lastbin, as well as the other bins, is full the excess sand conveyed by thebucket sections 8 will be conveniently returned to the floor of thefoundry through the overflow chute 22 (Figures 3 and 4). Thus I haveshown a unitary conveyor which .picks up sand from the foundry floor,elevates the sand to the conditioning mechanism and again elevates anddistributes thesand to the overhead bins.

As best shown in Figure 6. the discharge end of one of the bins 20 isdisposed directly above each of the molding machines 3. These may becommercial molding machines and asalready indicated are here shown forillustration as of the squeezer type comprising, in general. a lower jaw23 and an upper jaw- 24, the lower jaw 23 being adapted to support aflask 25 and being movable toward the jaw 24. The upper jaw 24 ispivoted upon the pedestal 26 to be swung away from the vertical line ofthe flask. When so swung away, the operator may pull upon the handle 27to open the discharge gates 28 at the discharge end of the bin 20 abovethe flask and cause a desired flask and after the pattern has beenappropriately surrounded with sand from one of the bins 20,

the jaw 24 is swung into place over the flask 25 and the customarysqueezing is done by elevating the jaw 23, against the jaw 24. The jaw24 is shown provided with an extension 30 of smaller area than the flask25 and which enters the flask to press the sand upon the pattern tocause the sand to assume the configuration of the pattern. The molder inaccordance with this conventional squeezer method may then remove thepattern and flask 25, leaving the sand mold 31 resting upon the bottomboard 29. This as here described may be what is known in the trade as agreen sand mold since the mold is not subsequently subjected to heat toproduce a dry sand mold. The mold may be formed insections, an uppersection or cope 31a and a lower section or drag 31b in accordance withwell known practice.

The bottom board 29 with the completed mold 31 thereon may be placed bythe operator upon a roller support32 preliminarily to subjecting the.

support 32. There are. desirably anumber of the roller supports 32 eachlocated opposite andimmediately adjacent means arranged at the rear ofthe combine to deposit the molds 31 on the.

floor of the foundry.

The depositing. means or conveying device I have here shown as.exemplifying my invention includes one or more box-like frames 34mounted on the combine C to move vertically thereon upon the guides 35.,(Figure 7). The frame 34 may include horizontal mainframe members 340.,vertical sub-frame members 34]) (certain of which may be provided withvertical slots engaging the guides 35, asat 35:; (Figure 15))and'diagonal reinforcing. members 34c. The sub-frame mem-.

bers' 34b are conveniently rectangular and of angle formation. g Each ofthe frames 34 is here shown suspended by cables 36 (Figure '1) upon thedrums 37 fixed upon a shaft 38. Through; the intermediation of anotherdrum 39, also mounted on the shaft 38, a counterweight 40 is suspendedto rotate the shaft 38 to elevate the frame 34 and maintain the framenormally in its uppermost position. The drum 39 desirably is of largerdiameter than the drums 3'lto' provide a lever arm effect which enhancesthe effec- 1 tiveness of the weight 40. A frame 34 may convenientlycomprise a number of compartments 41 each of which, in the uppermostposition of the frame, is immediately adjacent and in register with oneof the roller supports 32. In this instance, each mold is movedmanually' by the.

operator from the support 32 into one of the compartments 41 of-theframe opposite the support 32 upon which the mold was preliminarilyplaced. As best shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 each of the compartments41 is formed'by two adjoin- ,ing rectangular sub-frame members 34bwithin the horizontal portions of which are rotatably mounted the shafts42 having the cross feet 43 fixed at the bottom thereof and below thesubframes 34b. At their upper ends the shafts 42 have fixed thereonhorizontal arms 44. The shafts 42 are arranged in pairs, each pair beingconnected by a link 45 which 'hingedly joins the ends of a pair of arms44. The space between two of the pairs of shafts 42 constitutes one ofthe compartments of the depositing frame.

When the frame is at its uppermost position (see Figures 6 and 16) themold may be rolled.

from the support 32 onto a similar but hinged support 46 disposed, inthis position of the parts, in each of the compartments of the frame andin register with the roller supports 32. Each of the supports 46 iskeyed upon a rotatable shaft 47. In the position of the parts justdescribed, the supports 46 are maintained in mold supporting position bya bracket 48 whichis notched at 49 to be locked to a locking member 50fixed upon the combine 'C; The bracket 48'supports the roller supports46 through the intermediation of an arm 48a to which the bracket isconnected and which in turn is fixed upon the shaft 4'1. There may be abracket 48 for each group of supports 46 for each of theframes 34. I v

My invention contemplates in one aspect thereof that the combine C shallbe moved slowly along the foundry floor A upon the rails 15 continuouslyduring the molding operation to enable the sand E to be continuouslypicked up from the foundry floor and the molds continuously depositedupon the floor from which the sanclhas been removed.

The combine C may be driven by any suitable means such as the motor 51(Figure 2) through a conventional variable speed control mechanismindicated-generally at 52 and a conventional speed reducer 52a. clutchmechanism 52?: and a countershaft 520 in driving relation with two ofthe wheels 53 of the combine adjacent the shaft 520 all as by suitablegearing. For example the combine C may be driven in the direction of thearrow (Figure 1) at arate of, say, a foot a minute,

and this speed may be varied to suit the speed with which molds areproduced upon the-combine.

Assuming that it takes a minute and a half to produce a mold anddeposit'it upon the foundry floor, then as already described, if thecombine C is moving at the rate of a foot a minute, during every 18inches of travel of the combine C a mold will be made and deposited.Thus the molds are stored substantially in the location in which theyare produced.

I provide that the depositing frame 34 shall be actuated a predeterminednumber of times with respect to a given distance of travel of thecombine C, depending upon the size of the molds produced. To serve astripping mechanism to accomplish this I have shown one of the car wheels53 driving a shaft 54 (Figures 2 and 16) which extends along the combineC. The shaft 54 is driven through the intermediation of a variable speedreduction mechanism 55. By the intermediation of the mechanism 55 theshaft 54 may be caused to rotate, say, three revolutions for eachrevolution of the car wheel 53 or, in other words, three times for agiven distance of travel of the combine. The shaft 54 is provided withtwo discs 56 fixed thereon adjacent each of the brackets 48, each ofwhich discs has an eccentric finger 57 arranged to strike the tail 58 ofthe bracket 48 to lift the bracket off of the locking member 50,

permitting the support 46 to drop away from the mold 31. Upon thisoccurrence the weight of the mold falls upon the cross feet 43 of thefour adjacent shafts 42.

The weight of the mold being thus placed upon the frame 34, I provide inthis instance that the weight so added shall be sufficient to cause theframe to descend against the action of the counterweight 40, which isbut slightly heavier than the frame alone to maintain the frame normallyin uppermost position.

Since the frame 34 is actuated in this instance by gravity, I have,provided means for controlling its speed to prevent objectionablejarring of the molds as they meet the fioor of the foundry. I have shownthe rotatable shaft 38 which supports the frame 34 provided with acentrifugal governor including a bevel gear 59 (Figures 7 and 21) whichengages a bevel pinion 60 mounted upon a shaft 61- journaled in thecasing 62. A sleeve 63 is keyed to rotate with the shaft 61 and thissleeve has hinged thereto weights 64 The rotation of the shaft 61 whichis determined by the rotation of the shaft 38 will by centrifugal forcethrow the weights 64 outwardly of the shaft and these weights in theiroutward movement press correspondingly upon a disc 65 keyed to rotatewith the shaft 61 but movable axially thereof. The disc 65 is providedon one face with a friction producing member, such as the fiber ring 66,

which is adapted to bepressed against a ring 67 fixed to the casing 62.Thus as the shaft 38 tends to rotate faster, it will meet withincreasing frictional resistance between the rings 66 and 67 and auniform speed may be therefore maintained for the frame 34 regardless ofvariations in the weight of the frame and its load.

As the frame 34 approaches the fioor of the foundry (Figures 11 and 12),an arm 68 fixed to the shaft 69 extending along the frame 34, contactswith a stop 70 fixed upon the combine C. This contact throws the arm 68upwardly rotating the shaft 69 counterclockwise. The shaft 69 has fixedupon ,it at intervals and adjacent each pair .of shafts 42 arms 71 whichproject loosely through slots 72 in each link 45 connecting a pair ofshafts 42. the links 45are reciprocated by the rotation of the shaft 69and the shafts 42 are rotated by this reciprocation of the links 45 asthe arm 68 strikes the stop 70. The shafts 42 being thus rotated Just asthe frame 34 is coming to a stop at the fioor of the foundry, the crossfeet 43 fixed upon the shafts 42 are turned from under the bottom board29 and the mold is thus released to remain upon the fioor of the foundryas the frame 34 is subsequently elevated under the action of thecounterweight 40. The mold as already indicated is supported upon thebottom board 29 which in turn rests upon the fioor of the foundrythrough the intermediation of the cleats 73, the cleats 73 facilitatingthe turn ing movement'of the cross feet 43 from under the mold when theshafts 42 are rotated as set forth.

In the downward movement of the frame 34 the supports 46 are held out ofthe path of the frame 34 by a series of rollers 77 (Figure 18) mountedupon the frame 34 and riding upon the arm 48a fixed upon the shaft 47.

As the frame 34 ascends by the action of the counterweight 40, after themolds have been deposited upon the floor of the foundry, the arm 68contacts with a stop 74 (Figure 13) fixed upon the combine C. Thus asthe frame 34 approaches the limit of its upward movement, as shown inFigure 13, the arm 68 is moved downwardly rotating the shaft 69 in aclockwise direction and rotating the shafts 42 to turn the cross feet 43into mold receiving position. I

To insure that the arm 68 and consequently the cross feet 43 shall notbe actuated accidentally, I have provided that the arm 68 shall beresiliently held upon one side or the other of the shaft 69 by the coilspring 75 connecting the outer end of the arm 68 to a rigid verticalextension 78 of the horizontal frame member 340. This spring 75 alsodesirably serves to impel the cross feet 43 into either a moldsupporting position or a mold releasing position, since the arm 68 afterit strikes either the stop 70 or the stop 74 need only be movedsuiiiciently by the stop to bring the spring 75 into action upon theopposite side of the shaft 69. The arm 68 will be moved thereafter bythe action of the spring, enhancing the rapidity of movement of the feet43 into supporting or releasing position.

After the frame 34 has returned to its uppermost position the shaft 47is then rotated by the action of the counterweight 79 (Figures 6 and 7)through the intermediation of a cable 80 riding over the idler pulley 81and connected to the outer end of an arm 82 also fixed upon the shaft47. This rotation of the shaft 47 in a clockwise direction brings thesupport 46 back to a mold supporting. position, as indicated in Figure16, at which time the bracket 48 is permitted to engage the lockingmember 50 and maintain the support 46 in supporting position, until thenext rotation of the shaft 54 brings the finger 57 into contact with thetail 58 f the bracket 48.

In this instance, I have shown two of the frames 34, the abovedescription'applying equally to both frames and their associatedmechanism. Either or both of these frames may be caused to descend whena mold is placed on at least one of the hinged supports 46 and thebracket 48 is tripped as described. For example, the two shafts 38 eachsupporting a frame 34 may be connected or disconnected by a suitablecoupling indicated generally at 76.

As clearly shown at F in Figure 1, the molds 31 are deposited intransverse and longitudinal rows upon the floor A of the foundrywith-aselective I predetermined spacing of the molds transversely andlongitudinally of the foundry floor A. selective predetermined spacinglongitudinally may be secured by varying the number of times combine C.Now assuming that the molds produced are 12 inches from center to centerwhen two molds are placed in contact, then if thedepositing meansdeposits a mold three times for each 54 inches of travel of the combine,a mold will be deposited during each 18 inches of travel of the combineand the molds will ,be deposited 18 inches from center to center on thefoundry floor leaving 6 inches between each mold and the next.

The selective predetermined spacing of the providing that the sub-framemembers .34b shall be adjustable. For example, the sub-frame members 34bmay be connected to the horizontal frame members 34a by bolts 83(Figures 13, 15)- members 34a. Similarly, the vertical guides 35 may beselectively bolted to the combine 0 to suit the position of thesub-frame members 34b which engage the guides (Figure 15). Also to suitthe selective spacing of the sub-frame members 3412, the supports 32 and46 may be adjusted as by means of the bolts 85 (Figure 1'1) and boltholes 86, for the stationary support 32, and the keyway 87 upon theshaft 47 for the hinged support 46.

' Also the arms '11 may be adjusted upon the shaftv 69 by the set screws88 (Figure 11).,

If desired, certain of the sub-frame members 34b may remain stationaryand may form a common side for each of two compartments 41 as at 874;(Figure '7), while the remaining sub-frame members are adjusted as just.described. This selective adjustment of the compartments of thedepositing frame and associated mechanism and consequently of thespacing of the molds transversely of the foundry floor permits thecompartments of the depositing frame to be adapted to varying sizes ofmolds and at the same time provides, for example, for an aisle betweeneach two rows ofmolds longitudinally of the foundry floor to permit ofhand pouring of the molds, if desired.

The molds may be poured in accordance with conventional practice,provision beingmade for holding the sections of the molds togetherduring pouring in any suitable manner for example.

by placing a weight upon the upper section or cope 31a of the moldduring pouring. Thus the moldsmay be stored awaiting pouring with aminimum handling while the pouring may be done at any convenient time.This efiects a great saving in equipment for handling the molds as wellas avoiding damage to the molds by excessive handling. h

After the molds are poured,they are ready to be shaken out to remove thecastings therefrom.

Combine C may be returned to the starting position by driving thecombine from the motor 51 through the variable speed control mechanism52, the clutch mechanism 102, (Figure 2) the operation of 'whichdisengages the clutch mechisasm The molds transversely of the floor A issecured bywhich may be disposed in selective holes 84 in the.

anism 52b and con ects the motor through suit able gearing withthecountershaft 520, thus. cutting out the'speed reducer 52a andpermitting a its starting position in the cycle of operations. Duringthis return movement of the combine, the lower flight of the conveyor-3a may be elevated sufliciently above the floor of the foundry, asalready explained, ito be out-of contact with the sand thereon. l Y

My improved method affords great flexibility in foundry operation sinceit avoids, the necessity for continuous melting furnace operation, whileat the same time it permitscontinuous or non continuous moldingfasdesired at a minimum'in ,greater speed for the return of the combine tothat it is .not indispensable that all of the features be usedconiointly as they may be employed in different combinations andsub-combinations.

I claim: i i I 1.-Means for producing castings, comprising, incombination, a movable platform; a plurality of moldingmachinescarriedby the platform; driving mechanism for moving theplatform-including means for coordinating the rate of movement of theplatform with the rate of production of molds bythe machines carriedthereon; a

a lowering device carried-by the platform for receiving molds asproduced; mechanism operable at intervals controlled by the drivingmechanism for actuating said lowering device to lower the molds to theground; and automatic means for releasing the lowering device from themolds and returning it molds.

2. In a unitary molding combine, the combination of a platform movableover a foundry. floor;

a plurality of molding machines carried by the" platform; apower-drivenendless conveyor carried by the platform and having a series of sectionsin one vertical plane for conveying unconditioned sand from the foundryfloor to a conditioning apparatus carried by'the platform and havinganother series 'of sections in another vertical plane for receivingconditioned sand from the conditioning apparatus; a plurality of storagebins carried by the platform adjacent the molding machines and receivingconditioned sand from the second mentioned series of sections of theconveyor; and means carried by the platform for automatically deliveringmolds from the platform to the foundry floor.

3, Means for producing castings, comprising,

in combination; a molding combine spanning thefoundry floor andmovableon rails longitudinally of the floor; a plurality of molding machinescarried by the combine; a power-driven endless chain conveyor encirclingthe combine and operating in a plane transverse to the rails for pickingup and elevating unconditioned sand from substantially the entire flooras thecombine is moved longitudinally thereof; sand; conditioningapparatus carried by the combine receiving the unconditioned sand fromthe conveyor; means carried by to position to receive additional thecombine for delivering conditioned sand from the conditioning apparatusto adjacent each of the molding machines; and means at the rear of thecombine for automatically depositing a plurality of molds in transverserows on the foundry floor as the combine moves longitudinally thereover.

4. Means for producing castings, including the combination with amolding combine movable longitudinally over a foundry floor and spanningthe floor transversely adapted to carry a plurality of molding machinesof driving mechanism for moving the combine; a power-driven endlesschain conveyor carried by the combine and operating in a planetransverse to the floor for picking up sand from substantially theentire floor as the combine is moved longitudinally thereof andelevating said sand; means at the rear of the combine for'receiving themolds in a transverse row and automatically depositing the molds intransverse rows on the foundry floor as the combine moves longitudinallythereover; and actuating mechanism for the depositing means controlledby thedriving mechanism for the combine at intervals in the travel ofthe combine coordinated with the speed of production of molds thereon.

5. Means for producing castings, including, n combination, a moldingcombine movable longitudinally over a foundry floor and spanning thefloor transversely; a plurality of molding machines carried by thecombine; driving mechanism for moving the combine; a power-drivenendless conveyor having a series of sections in one vertical plane forconveying unconditioned sand from the foundry floor to a conditioningapparatus carried by the combine and having another series of sectionsin another vertical plane for receiving conditioned sand from theconditioning apparatus; a plurality of storage bins carried by thecombine adjacent the molding machines and receiving conditioned sandfrom the second mentioned series of sections of the conveyor; means atthe rear of the combine for receiving molds made by the machines andautomatically depositing the molds on the foundry floor in transverserows as the combine moves longitudinally thereover; and actuatingmechanism for the depositing means controlled at intervals by thedriving mechanism;

6. The combination with a molding combine movable longitudinally over afoundry floor; of an endless chain conveyor having horizontal andvertical flights carried by the combine and movable in a planetransverse to the floor, said conveyor having a horizontal flightsubstantially spanning the floor for picking up sand from substantiallythe entire floor and a verticalflight for elevating the sand to thecombine as the combine moves longitudinally thereover and the conveyormoves both transversely and longitudinally with respect thereto. v

7. The combination with a molding combine movable longitudinally over afoundry floor; of an endless chain conveyor having horizontal andvertical flights carried by the combine and movable in a planetransverse to the floor, said conveyor having a horizontal flightsubstantially spanning the floor for picking up sand from substantiallytheentire floor and a vertical flight for elevating the sand to thecombine as the combine moves longitudinally thereover and the conveyormoves both transversely and longitudinally; and means for adjusting thehorizontal flight of the conveyor in said transverse plane.

8. The combination with a molding combine adapted to span a foundryfloor; of a track frame carried at the bottom of the combinetransversely of the floor and adjustable in a vertical plane; a pair ofhorizontal raceways on the frame; a trough extending in said planealongthe top of the combine; an endless chain 'conveyor trained in saidraceways and through the trough; a series of buckets on said conveyorfor conveying sand from the foundry floor to said trough, said bucketsbeing adjustable toward and from the floor by adjustment of the saidtrack-frame; a sprocket carried by the track-frame in driving relationwith the conveyor; and means for driving the sprocket.

9. The combination with a molding combine adapted to span a foundryfloor; of a track-frame carried along the bottom of the combinetransversely of the floor and adjustable in a vertical plane; a pair ofraceways carried by the trackframe; a trough extending in said planealong the top of the combine; an endless chain conveyor trained in saidraceways and through the trough; I

a series of buckets on said conveyor, said buckets having sections inone vertical plane for conveying unconditioned sand from the foundryfloor to one side of said trough and another section in another parallelvertical plane for conveying conditioned sand to the other side of thetrough;

hoppers opening downwardly from the trough to receive sand conveyedthereto a sprocket carried by the track-frame in driving relation withthe conveyor; and means for driving the sprocket.

10. The combination with a molding combine spanning a foundry floor andmovable longitudinally thereon; of hinged supports at the rear of thecombine for receiving a plurality of molds in a row transverse to thefoundry floor; a frame movable vertically in the plane of said supports;a pair of horizontallyrotatable feet carried by the frame at each sideof'each of said supports but spaced slightly below the supports in theuppermost position of the frame; a counterweight normally maintainingthe frame at its uppermost position; means for lowering the supports tocause the molds to be received on said feet and overbalancing'thecounterweight to cause the frame to descend; and automatic means at theend of said descent for rotating the feet from under the molds todeposit the molds on the foundry floor, whereupon the counterweightreturns the frame to uppermost position.

11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the supports are keyed upon acommon rotatable shaft and the frame is provided with verticallyarranged rollers which engage the arm keyed to said shaft to rotate theshaft and swing the supports downwardly out of-the path of the frame.

12., The structure of claim 10 wherein the horizontally rotatable feetare connected with a common shaft having a free lever arm fixed thereonand the combine carriesstops engageable by the lever arm at the bottomand top of the vertical range of movement of the frame to rotate thefeet out of and into mold supporting positions respectively.

13. The structure of claim 10 wherein the supports are keyed upon'acommon rotatable shaft and automatic means is carried by the combine forrotating the shaft to return the, supports to mold receiving positionafter the frame has returned to uppermost position.

14. The structure of claim 10 wherein powerdriven means is provided formoving the combine and a tripping mechanism is connected with thesupports actuated automatically at selected distances of travel of thecombine whereby the transverse rows of molds are spaced longitudinallyupon the foundry floor.

15. Means for producing castings or the like gitudinally over a foundryfloor and substantially spanning the floor transversely; a power drivenendless conveyor carried by the combine having sections in two parallelplanes transverse to the floor and direction of travel of the combine; aseries of buckets on said conveyor in each section, the buckets in onesection having operative edges depending below the operative edges ofthe buckets in the other section; a pair of aprons fixed to the combineat the end of the lower horizontal flight of the conveyor through whichthe buckets are trained, said aprons having different arcuations andcooperating with the operative edges of the buckets to direct sand intosaid buckets respectively.

1'7. In casting producing means for use with a movable platform or thelike and a molding machine carried thereby, the combination comprisingdriving means for moving the platform, a conveying device for receivingmolds produced on the platform and removing said molds from theplatform, and mechanism associated with the driving means and theconveying device actuated by the driving means for causing operation ofthe conveying device to deliver molds received thereon from theplatform.

18. In the production of castings or the like, the combination with amovable molding machine, of a depositing device for receiving moldsproduced on the machine, means for causing the operation of thedepositing device, and mechanism for actuating said means atpredetermined distances of travel of the molding machine.

ROBERT L. mcnivarms.

